The launch saw President Mnangagwa distributing 40 e-learning kits and over 500 000 books.
It was a moment of nostalgia and remembering his school days this morning for the president as he sat down in a classroom with students at Girls High School in Harare as he acquainted himself with the e-learning gadget kit which he launched at the school Wednesday morning.
The kit comprises 40 tablets, a smart projector which can be connected to the internet, and an in-built server which stores content and can be operated offline.
The kit also came with a solar panel for use in remote areas that do not have electricity.
The kit has been supplied by a Rwandan company while the books have been sourced internally with Women Affairs, Community and SMEs Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni playing a huge role in mobilising business people and organisations and NGOs and UN agencies to contribute towards quality education and access to education by every Zimbabwean child and leaving no one behind.
Addressing the gathering which included Primary and Secondary Education Minister Professor Paul Mavhima, Minister of State Security Minister Owen Ncube, and Minister Nyoni, and the Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Edgar Moyo and Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Energy Mutodi, President Mnangagwa said the launch of the e-learning kits and distribution of books is in line with sustainable smart education programme to respond to government's call to qualitatively transform, modernise and make the education sector more responsive and relevant.
The launch was held under the theme: ‘Building Positive Social Impact for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education: Everyone's responsibility', a theme which President Mnangagwa said is timely and in keeping with the Second Republic's thrust and national vision to become an upper middle income economy by 2030.
"The provision of necessary teaching and learning resources is necessary for the attainment of both quality and inclusive education. The smart e-learning kits and exercise books being distributed under the programme will be useful in building a knowledge base for learners and critical to the achievement of Vision 2030.
"The materials must be adaptable to Zimbabwean situation and touch on science, technology, ICTs, health, environment, gender, HIV and AIDS," said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa stressed the need for an education system that inculcates appropriate fundamentals for learners to think broadly and creatively from a young age.
The President invited other key stakeholders and partners to meet Sustainable Development Goal Number 4 and the 2030 Education Development Agenda.
He said the competency based curriculum is research and development oriented which requires extensive electronic equipment as well as ICT infrastructure.
Minister Nyoni hailed the role played by stakeholders in the donation of books which carry important messages to help young people contribute towards resolving social, health and environmental challenges.
Minister Professor Mavhima said the exercise books and e-learning kits should make Zimbabwe proud in the area of primary and secondary education and ensure Zimbabwe's effective participation in the 4th industrial revolution.
He said Zimbabwe should attain 100 percent digitisation in the next few years to achieve e-learning countrywide.
